I think we all go into a sort of auto pilot when the diagnosis happens. Then we spend weeks or months doing treatments and surgeries and making decisions, all of which keeps us busy. All through that time we are seeing our medical team often so we feel safe from the cancer doing something without us knowing. All of a sudden we are through that and start hearing see you in 3 months or 6 months. That takes away our mental safety net and leaves us to ponder the previous months. It leaves us the time to respond to the emotions we buried in the beginning.

I burst in to tears at the end of my last radiation treatment. After almost a year of daily appt's - I was "alone" for the first time with my dx. It was all on me from here on out. Almost 3 yrs later, I have a 'new' vibrant sense of normal...not fear, not anxiety. BC's is always there lurking but the lost, empty feeling is long gone. There is light -- really.

Thanks ladies for the responses. I thought I was going crazy. My husband was there during treatment as much as he could be. He is not one that deals with illness well at all. But I have the added stress since treatment ended, because the family including him doesn't get it. They think the treatments over, the cancer is gone I should just move on. I really don't think they get it. Im glad I found this site. It helps to be able to get positive reasonable feedback. God bless you all. Stay Strong!

I just finished chemo and waiting for radiation. I have been feeling the same- more emotional and I think it's because I feel that now it's watch and wait situation to see if it comes back. This is normal- what has been normal for us has now
Stopped and we feel alone and maybe abandoned. I spoke to the chemo nurses and said that this was normal. My friends husband felt like this after treatment from prostrate cancer- suddenly all the support of the medical staff was gone and depression sets in. Try to find a support group. I am trying to keep busy by excercising and yoga.

I just finished on July 28th 25 radiation treatments after 16 chemo treatments. I did the double mastectomy because my cancer though found early had already spread and made a mess of my lymph odes. I must of hit warrior mode when I was diagnosed because I truly felt like I was watching the whole thing happen to someone else. I had a huge support group and they're all still there for me, but a few weeks ago I checked on a doctor appt online and started going thru information of my tests, procedures and treatments and it knocked me off my feet. I feel like you what do we do now ? Is my system in some sort of shock from all that happened ? I feel like I'm waiting for something, I'm very greatful that after all I've been through I'm still here. But I definitely feel empty like something's missing. So I was talked into seeing a councilor at our cancer center and she also told me this is a normal progression of all we've been through and our center is actually forming a bc survivor group. So I'm optimistic at this point. I hope this info helps. We are better knowing we aren't alone in this. Good luck to you. Kimmy